CHAPTER 12 HUMAN ENVIRONMENT INTERACTION

CREATING LAND FROM THE SEA At least 40% of the Netherlands was once under the sea. Land that is reclaimed is called a POLDER. LOOK ON PAGE 282

 STEPS ONE AND TWO: BUILD EARTHEN DAMS AROUND A SHALLOW AREA OF SEA AND PUMP THE AREA DRY.

STEP THREE: ALLOW THE LAND TO DRY AND RAINS TO WASH AWAY THE SALT RESIDUE.

STEP FOUR: THE LAND IS PLANTED FOR CROPS, ESPECIALLY DUTCH TULIPS

TRANSFORMING THE SEA  The Dutch have also changed the Zuider Zee, formerly a saltwater inlet into a freshwater lake, Lake Ijsselmeer, by creating polders and blocking the access to the sea.

VENICE  VENICE IS A CITY OF 120 ISLANDS CONNECTED BY CANALS.  THERE ARE NO STREETS AND NO CARS, TRUCKS, OR TRAINS.  BECAUSE OF ITS LOCATION ON THE ADRIATIC SEA, VENICE BECAME A TRADING CENTER AND GREW RAPIDLY.

VENICE VENICE, ITALY IS A SERIES OF ISLANDS CONNECTED BY CANALS. ITS LOCATION ON THE ADRIATIC SEA HELPED IT BECOME A TRADING CENTER.  VENICE’S CANALS

  THE WEIGHT OF THE BUILDINGS HAS CAUSED THE CITY TO GRADUALLY SINK.   DURING THE HIGH TIDES, THE WATER FLOODS HOTELS AND HOUSES.

ST. MARK’S SQUARE DURING “AQUA ALTA”

ONE SOLUTION IS TO CONSTRUCT A DAM THAT IS ACTIVATED BY THE TIDAL SURGES.

DEFORESTATION

The Black Forest in Germany in an artist’s drawing of what a portion looked like 1000 years ago The same region in the Black Forest today

LOOK ON PAGE 285  WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF DEFORESTATION IN EUROPE?  WHAT EFFECTS DOES DEFORESTATION HAVE ON THE ENVIRONMENT?  WHICH AREAS OF EUROPE HAVE BEEN MOST SEVERELY AFFECTED BY DEFORESTATION?